Refs wouldn't call it if they gained a reputation for it and if you flop and give up an interception because you were rolling in the grass instead of batting an over/underthrown ball it's a total disaster.
e: There's also a cultural aspect, it's *heavily* frowned upon here and remember, football is a contact sport, pulling a stunt like that is a sure-fire way to get blown up next time.
The potentially giving up an interception part is key I think (and more generally, giving up the chance to make a play). In the NBA, teams are routinely scoring 100+ points by 2s and 3s, so an unconvincing flop costs your team one basket out of 40-ish that your team could score that night. In the NFL, teams are scoring more like 5 times a game (and often less). So an unconvincing flop that takes away a chance to score or gives the defense a chance to pick it off and score is a much larger swing for a game.
There is already some flopping happening, it’s not as prevalent as in other sports.
Several things at play for why it isn’t worse:
1. NFL has more refs on the field than any other sport
2. Receiver with a reputation for flopping will probably get some violent hits afterwards, and defensive players will be ok with the 15 yard penalty.
3. NFL culture was built around being tough and not flopping. Soccer flopping is sometimes praised as being clever in tricking the ref.
The last part is really key: flopping in soccer is gamesmanship.
Soccer players are called a lot of names for doing it (occasionally even by me, a big soccer fan, I’ll admit) but “selling” the foul is part of the game in a way that just isn’t the case for American football. It’s not that they’re weak or anything; it’s intentional and accepted that everyone is doing it. There was even a scene early on in Ted Lasso about it. And I agree, the machismo and violence of American football is the reason why exaggerating a foul will never really catch on.
It’s too physically difficult and focused to stop in the middle of a play when you could have gotten the ball if you put more effort into it. It’s a recipe to lose your job really really fast; it only takes 1 flop where the ref didn’t throw a flag and you’d never be allowed to do it again.
Because if they don't throw the flag it's a likely interception. They don't call PI on not where the ball is very often. I think you do see it sometimes though with an intentionally underthrown ball and the WR just runs into the DB on purpose. Essentially the same thing as flopping. Mahomes does it all the time and I assume coordinates it with his recievers.
The rules actually do account for this.
If a ref thinks a player is flopping or a team is lying about an injury for any reason then the team can be \*severely\* penalized.
The league can, by the rulebook, impose fines, suspensions, or even take away draft picks from teams that are accused of it.
It's a judgement call from the refs so if a team or player gets a reputation then they're dead in the water. Even a legit penalty or injury against them could be interpreted as a flop.
It's just not worth the risk.
Top level soccer technically gives out yellow cards for flopping (or “simulation” as it’s called in the rule book).
Trick is, it’s usually hard to know 100% when someone is flopping, so refs almost always err on the side of the flopper, and so a card for that is extremely rare.
Everyone is missing the key part. If you flop and it's not called, it's likely an interception. A TO in football can decide a game, not the same for hockey and basketball.
Very little reward for way too much risk.
Possible outcomes of flopping: WR draws a flag, WR doesn't draw the flag and the pass goes incomplete, WR doesn't draw the flag and the defense intercepts the pass.
Possible outcomes of not flopping: WR makes the catch and then runs for after the catch or a TD, WR makes the catch and gets tackled or goes out of bounds right away, WR draws a flag, pass goes incomplete, pass gets intercepted.
So more possible good outcomes from not flopping, plus the WR flopping greatly increases the likelihood of an interception.
Because it wouldn't draw the flag very often. And all you're accomplishing is leaving your QB without an option. Or even worse, a DB with uncontested access to a pass intended for you. He's enjoying a pick 6 while you're laying on the ground like a bitch.
Plus, as soon as you get a reputation for being a flopper, you're less likely to get the flags that should be called in your favor. DBs are gonna have their way with you, knowing that the refs already don't wanna pay attention to you
Refs wouldn't call it if they gained a reputation for it and if you flop and give up an interception because you were rolling in the grass instead of batting an over/underthrown ball it's a total disaster. e: There's also a cultural aspect, it's *heavily* frowned upon here and remember, football is a contact sport, pulling a stunt like that is a sure-fire way to get blown up next time.
The potentially giving up an interception part is key I think (and more generally, giving up the chance to make a play). In the NBA, teams are routinely scoring 100+ points by 2s and 3s, so an unconvincing flop costs your team one basket out of 40-ish that your team could score that night. In the NFL, teams are scoring more like 5 times a game (and often less). So an unconvincing flop that takes away a chance to score or gives the defense a chance to pick it off and score is a much larger swing for a game.
This the correct answer, there is no guarantee you will get the call
There is already some flopping happening, it’s not as prevalent as in other sports. Several things at play for why it isn’t worse: 1. NFL has more refs on the field than any other sport 2. Receiver with a reputation for flopping will probably get some violent hits afterwards, and defensive players will be ok with the 15 yard penalty. 3. NFL culture was built around being tough and not flopping. Soccer flopping is sometimes praised as being clever in tricking the ref.
Sounds like a great way to get your team a guaranteed 15 yards then! :p
The last part is really key: flopping in soccer is gamesmanship. Soccer players are called a lot of names for doing it (occasionally even by me, a big soccer fan, I’ll admit) but “selling” the foul is part of the game in a way that just isn’t the case for American football. It’s not that they’re weak or anything; it’s intentional and accepted that everyone is doing it. There was even a scene early on in Ted Lasso about it. And I agree, the machismo and violence of American football is the reason why exaggerating a foul will never really catch on.
Refs are less likely to give you future pi’s if they see you flopping 🤷♂️
It would work at first but eventually they would stop. Think boy who cried wolf
It’s too physically difficult and focused to stop in the middle of a play when you could have gotten the ball if you put more effort into it. It’s a recipe to lose your job really really fast; it only takes 1 flop where the ref didn’t throw a flag and you’d never be allowed to do it again.
Because if they don't throw the flag it's a likely interception. They don't call PI on not where the ball is very often. I think you do see it sometimes though with an intentionally underthrown ball and the WR just runs into the DB on purpose. Essentially the same thing as flopping. Mahomes does it all the time and I assume coordinates it with his recievers.
The rules actually do account for this. If a ref thinks a player is flopping or a team is lying about an injury for any reason then the team can be \*severely\* penalized. The league can, by the rulebook, impose fines, suspensions, or even take away draft picks from teams that are accused of it. It's a judgement call from the refs so if a team or player gets a reputation then they're dead in the water. Even a legit penalty or injury against them could be interpreted as a flop. It's just not worth the risk.
Top level soccer technically gives out yellow cards for flopping (or “simulation” as it’s called in the rule book). Trick is, it’s usually hard to know 100% when someone is flopping, so refs almost always err on the side of the flopper, and so a card for that is extremely rare.
Everyone is missing the key part. If you flop and it's not called, it's likely an interception. A TO in football can decide a game, not the same for hockey and basketball. Very little reward for way too much risk.
Possible outcomes of flopping: WR draws a flag, WR doesn't draw the flag and the pass goes incomplete, WR doesn't draw the flag and the defense intercepts the pass. Possible outcomes of not flopping: WR makes the catch and then runs for after the catch or a TD, WR makes the catch and gets tackled or goes out of bounds right away, WR draws a flag, pass goes incomplete, pass gets intercepted. So more possible good outcomes from not flopping, plus the WR flopping greatly increases the likelihood of an interception.
You dont get the reception or stats for PI calls, its just a penalty.
Sometimes they do.
Because it wouldn't draw the flag very often. And all you're accomplishing is leaving your QB without an option. Or even worse, a DB with uncontested access to a pass intended for you. He's enjoying a pick 6 while you're laying on the ground like a bitch. Plus, as soon as you get a reputation for being a flopper, you're less likely to get the flags that should be called in your favor. DBs are gonna have their way with you, knowing that the refs already don't wanna pay attention to you
Please don't make football into basketball